The imaginative building, also called a sub- or sea-scraper, was designed by Sarly Adre bin Sarkum of Malaysia and intended to contrast with the above-ground entries that dominated the competition.

The floating “seascraper” is designed to be completely self-sufficient. Green spaces would sit above the surface of the water and provide food and oxygen, while wind, solar, and wave power would be harnessed for energy. Underwater levels would consist of housing, work spaces, and recreational areas.

This year eVolo’s winning design was a prison in the sky where inmates work and live in a community that would contribute to the host city below. The prison would consist of agricultural fields, factories, and recycling plants operated by the offenders, in an attempt to reduce post-release crimes.

Second and third place went to a water purifying complex for Indonesia and a nest-like skyscraper for Tokyo, respectively (see the two images below). Check out more designs as well as the other winners here.

In other exciting architecture news, a new landmark and leader in green building standards is rising in the London skyline. The Strata, a new apartment complex set to open this year, is the world’s first skyscraper to incorporate large wind turbines in its structure. The turbines sit 42 stories up and are expected to generate about 8% of the building’s energy needs.

While it’s unclear whether we will see an Atlantis of seascrapers anytime soon, architects and engineers are clearly producing buildings that challenge our existing notions.

What about you? What kinds of changes and innovations would you incorporate into a future structure and why?